Grain-drier



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(MOdGL) 4m Q J. GREGORY & V LAPHAM.

GRAIN DRIER.

No. 288.428. Patented Nov. 13. 1883.

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WITNESSES N. PETERS. Phllo-Lilhngnpher. Wnhin mn, n. c.

(Moc lL) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

J. GREGORY am. LAPHAM.

GRAIN DRIER.

No. 288,428. Patented Nov. 13, 1883.

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.llnrrnn dramas PATENT FFEQEQ GRAIN- DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,428, dated November13, 1883.

Application filed July 10. 1883. (Modem which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of ourimproved grain-drier. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal Fig.

3 is a cross-section. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one side of the machine,and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the other end.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Our invention has relation to that class of grain-driers in which thegrain is carried through tubes inclosed in a heated casing by means ofspirally flanged conveyers, each tube'connecting with the next; and itconsists in the improved construction and combination of parts of thesame, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A indicates a rectangularsteam-tight metal casing adapted to be placed above a boiler of anyconstruction, and having at its lower end an inlet-pipe, B, providedwith a suitable stop-cock, and anoutlet-cock, 0, through which the airmay pass out of the casing when steam is let into the same. The endpieces of the casing have a number of circular apertures, D, arranged inpairs, one above the other, to the edges of which apertures the ends ofa number of cylindrical tubes, E, are fastened steam tight, so that theinside of the tubes may communicate with the outer atmosphere withoutallowing any of the steam to escape. The ends of the tubes are providedat one end of the casing with T-shaped cross-pieces F, which leave theinner halves of the apertures ppen without any obstruction, while theouter halves of the apertures, across whichthe crosspieces extend, arecovered with semicircular pieces G, of perforated sheet metal orwirecloth. The inner edges of the vertical heads 1 of the cross-piecesform flanges or ways H, between which the laterally-extending flanges Iof a number of tapering spouts, J, of perforated sheet metal orwire-cloth, provided with handles for their convenient manipulation, fitand slide, which spouts connect each pair of tubes. The other end of thecasing is provided with a rectangular frame, K, having a verticalcross-piece, L, which is secured to the end piece of the casing by meansof bolts and nuts M, and the said frame has a cover, N, of perforatedsheet metal or wire-cloth, which has rectangular apertures 0, havingframes P, connecting the lower half of one of each pair of tubes withone of the tubes of the pair below, and the upper and lower edges of theframes 1? form flanges or ways Q, between which ways the flanges of anumber of spouts, It, of per forated sheet metal or wire-cloth, fit andslide.

The tubes are provided with shafts S, turning in bearings T in the headsof the crosspieces at the one end of the tubes, and in the upper andlower ends of the frames P,and having spiral flanges U, the outer edgesof which nearly touch the insides of the tubes, and which have means forrotating them, as shown in the drawings, where the ends of the shaftsare provided with sprocket-wheels V, which are engaged by an endlesssprocketchain, W', passing over them and over a sprocket-wheel, X, uponthe drive-shaft Y, which receives its motion from any appropriate motor.

The grain is fed into the machine through a tube, a, at the upper end ofthe casing, opening into one of the upper pair of tubes, and it escapesfrom the machine through a spout, b, at the lower end of the casing fromthe tube through which the grain passes last, and the feed-tube may beprovided with a suitable slide, by means of which the flow of the grainmay be regulated. The spiral. flanges upon the shafts are wound thus,and the shafts revolved in such a'manner that as the grain enters one ofthe upper pair of tubes through the spout or inlet-tube, the shaft, withits spiral flange, the capacity of the space between each turn of whichis the same as the capacity of the feed-tube, will convey the grain tothe other end, where the perforated spout will allow it to pass to theother tube of the same pair, where the conveyer will carry it to theother end, where the spout will allow it to aeams pass into the tubebelow, through which it passes into the one at the side of it, and soforth, until the grain passes out of the lower spout, from which thegrain may be conveyed to the bin or where it is desired to carry it.Vhile the grain is passing through the machine, it comes in contact withthe air at each end of the tubes passing through the perforatedconnecting-spouts, giving off its moisture, and becoming cooled off, thesteam having been turned on at the commencement of the operation and theoutletcock opened, allow ing the air to escape, when. it is againclosed, the condensed steam passing out through the inlet-cock into theinlet-pipe and down into the boiler, the drier being placed above theboiler, thus obviating the necessity of having an outlet-pipe for thecondensed steam.

It follows that the machine may be used for drying beans or any otherproduct of similar character, and that the shafts may be revolved bymeans of cog-wheels meshing with each other, or by any other desiredgear, without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to securebyLetters Patent of the United States- 1. The combination, in agrain-drier, of the outer casing, having steam-inlet and air-outlet cockat its lower end, the tubes passing longitudinallythrough the casing inpairs connecting with each other, opening in the ends of the casing, andhaving perforated covers over the ends, and the spirally-flanged shaftspassing through the tubes and having means for revolving them, as andfor the purpose shown and set forth.

2. The combination of the outer casing having the steam-inlet and theair-outlet cock at its lower end, the tubes passing longitudinallythrough the casing in pairs, having the perforated covers covering partsof the open ends of the same, and the perforated connectingspoutsconnecting the several tubes consecutively, and the spirally-flangedshafts revolving in the tubes, in the manner and for the purpose shownand set forth.

8. The herein-described grain-drier, consisting of the rectangularcasing having the inletcock for steam and the air-outlet cock, the tubespassing longitudinally through the easing in pairs and opening in theend pieces of the casing, the T-shaped cross-pieces forming bearings andways, as described, the semicircular perforated covers, the rectangularframe fastened to the end of the outer casing having the rectangularopenings the ends of which form bearings and horizontal ways, asdescribed, in its perforated cover, the perforated spouts sliding in theways formed at both ends of the tubes and connecting the tubesconsecutively, the spirally-flanged shafts having means for revolvingthem in the tubes, and the grainfeeding tube entering the end of one ofthe upper pair of tubes, and the outlet-tube opening from one of thelower pair of tubes, all constructed, combined, and arranged as and forthe purpose shown and set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereuntoaffixed our signa tures in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GREGORY. VALENTINE LAPHAM.

Vitnesses:

WV. S. CUNNINGHAM, O. XV. WEEKs.

